For example, John and Mary are married. Mary lived with her parents all year while John was serving in the military. Mary was a full-time student and did not have any income. Mary’s parents can claim her as a dependent only if John and Mary file separate tax returns.

The U.S. House of Representatives Tuesday, Feb. 29, 2012, sided with private property owners by passing the Private Property Right Protection Act of 2012 (H.R. 1443). The bipartisan bill, sponsored by Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner, R-WI, essentially prevents states from using eminent domain over property to be used for economic development.

TransCanada Corporation announced last week that they had sent a letter to the U.S. Department of State (DOS) informing the department the company plans to file a Presidential Permit application (cross border permit) in the near future for the Keystone XL Project from the U.

U.S. cattle numbers have declined 14 of the last 16 years, with the addition of 2011. The severe drought has increased the reduction of cattle numbers, sending feeder cattle to market at lower and lower weights, resulting in less beef per animal, including less Choice grades.

I ’ m a great fan of Costco, especially the way the warehouse chain sells beef. From the moment I see the giant “USDA Choice” banner above its fresh meat case, my pulse quickens as I anticipate finding a great beef deal. True to form, a visit last week produced not one but two terrific buys (although one wasn’t in the fresh case).

The problem lies in a comprehensive BSE rule for beef imports that would make the U.S. compliant with international trade standards set by the World Organization for Animal Health. The rule has been caught in the federal bureaucracy for several years, starting in 2004 shortly after BSE was discovered in a Canadian cow brought into the United States.

I met Dr. Good on quite a few occasions at the Saddle and Sirloin Club banquet, where they hang the portrait of one person in the livestock industry every year. It is the highest honor you can get in our business and one Dr. Good had received years ago. My impression was he had a classy personality befitting someone of the WWII gen eration,.

Two young men—Traton Tyler Vanderpool, 19, and Jared Wade Barlass, 20—were charged with eight counts of cruelty to animals. In August 2011, the pair shot nine cattle with compound bows and arrows, killing six animals. After numerous tips to police implicating them, the pair turned themselves in to authorities and pled guilty.

Under the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008, cost share assistance payments are limited to 75 percent of an individual producer’s or handler’s certification costs up to a maximum of $750 per year per category of certification. These funds will be distributed until exhausted on a first come first serve basis.

The House Agriculture Committee held a public hearing to review the 2012 agenda of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) as the agency continues to investigate the collapse of MF Global and promulgate rules pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.